His nascent candidacy has enjoyed a string of good luck in recent days. Former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon was removed from Breitbart News after a public spat with President Donald Trump.

Romney, an outspoken critic of Trump, enjoys widespread name recognition and support among Utah’s Mormon community.

“I think if he wants to be a check, it won’t hurt him here like it has others,” Lt. Gov. Spencer J. Cox, a Republican, told The Times, comparing Romney to outgoing GOP Sens. Jeff Flake of Arizona and Bob Corker of Tennessee. “He could do it from Day 1 and he’d be fine.”

Romney and Trump have reportedly mended their relationship to some degree, though the lingering bad blood may have played a role in Trump’s urging Hatch to remain in office.

“You are a true fighter, Orrin. And I have to say, I’ve gotten to know him very well,” Trump said in a December speech in Utah. “I’ve gotten to know a lot of people very well.

“You meet fighters and you meet people that you thought were fighters but they’re not so good at fighting. He’s a fighter.”

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“We hope you will continue to serve your state and your country in the Senate for a very long time to come,” the president added.

Romney had referred to Trump as a “phony,” and a “fraud” during a March 2016 speech.